This section outlines the access to and uptake of computer science GCSE and A level qualifications for all schools and school broken down by school type. School type here refers to the “gender” of the school, i.e. mixed or single sex boys or girls, as well as the admissions policy, broken down into grammar schools, independent schools (i.e. private schools) and special schools, both independent and state run. The comprehensive category is used to give data on all non-selective state schools, including secondary moderns, UTCs and free schools.
66.1 % of schools offered GCSE computer science in 2022/23, this figure rises to 79.6 % of comprehensive schools and 95.7 % of grammar schools.
82 % of all secondary school students were in a school offering GCSE computer science, with 16.3 % of this group taking the subject.
whilst the percentage of students in grammar schools and independent schools has increased substantially, the percentage of students in comprehensive schools taking the GCSE has been relatively flat since 2017, changing from 12.8 % to 12.9 %.
92.5 % of all boys comprehensives offered the subject in 2023, compared to just 82.6 % of all girls comprehensives.
A level provision has risen dramatically, with 57.2 % of providers now offering the subject and 62.1 % of students being in a provider where the subject is offered.
grammar schools are more likely to offer the A level than other provider types, with 88.7 % teaching the subject compared to 60.8 % of comprehensives.
like with the GCSE, all boys providers were more likely to offer the A level, 85.6 % of this school type delivered the subject, compared to 51.1 % of all girls schools.